Everything you need to know about garbage pickup in Fort Worth
Taking the trash out is one of life’s eternal chores and it pays to get it in the proper receptacle before garbage day comes.
The city of Fort Worth offers residents a few ways to dispose of their garbage, from everyday trash, recycling, yard trimmings, composting, bulk waste, electronics and even shredding services. The Fort Worth Garbage and Recycling app, available on iOS and Android, is a good source for residents to determine their trash pickup days.
For the remainder of 2022, Thanksgiving is the only holiday that will affect residential collection. The Nov. 24, Thursday collection will be picked up on Friday and Friday’s collection will move to Saturday.
The Fourth of July and Labor Day holidays will both be regular collection days for the city. Christmas will be unaffected as well, since it falls on a Sunday and is outside the Monday through Friday collection schedule.
Here’s everything you need to know about garbage pickup in Fort Worth:
Regular garbage service
The city provides residents with residential curbside pickup once per week.
Residents have three different brown trash carts to choose from and the city recommends picking the best unit that fits your family’s need. To order a cart, call the city’s code compliance office at 817-392-1234.
- 32 gallon- This cart is recommended for one to two people who recycle paper, plastic, metal and glass containers. The cart costs $12.50 a month and the weight limit for trash collection is 150 pounds.
- 64 gallon- This cart is for families of three to four people who recycle. The cart will run you $17.50 a month and has a weight collection limit of 200 pounds.
- 96 gallon- The biggest cart size is good for large families who recycle or for smaller groups who do not. This cart is $22.75 a month with a weight limit of 250 pounds.
Trash collection runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and pickup day is determined where you live in the city. Here are some other pickup day tips from the city:
- The cart lid must be closed and an overstuffed unit will not be picked up.
- Place the cart handles toward the house and make sure the unit is placed a few inches from the curb or edge of street.
- The cart can be rolled out as early as 6 p.m. the day before, but it must be on the curb by 7 a.m. on pickup day. The cart must be retrieved from the curb by midnight of pickup day and stored in a way where it can’t be seen from the street.
- The city encourages residents to not call about a missed trash collection before 7 p.m. on pickup day. However, if there is a missed pickup, residents have 24 hours to report it to the customer call center at 817-392-1234.
- If a resident has more trash than the cart can hold, they can purchase “pay bags” in sets of five for $15 from the city. The bags can be ordered by calling 817-392-1234 and will be mailed to your address. Only city-issued “pay bags” will be picked up by the city, any other kind of bag will not be collected.
Recycling
All recycling pickup goes in blue carts provided by the city.
The same collection rules apply for recycling and normal trash services, carts have to be rolled out by 7 a.m. on pickup day and sat on the curb with the handle facing the house. The same overstuffed rules apply and only recycling items should be included in the blue cart.
Blue recycling carts cost residents zero additional charges and can be ordered by calling 817-392-1234. Here’s what is allowed in recycling:
- Cans that have been rinsed, but the labels can stay on.
- Paper and cardboard that is clean and dry.
- Glass containers that have been rinsed, but the label is okay to be on. All colors of glass are accepted.
- Hard plastic containers need to be rinsed and can be left with the cap on. Plastic bags or film are not accepted.
Some items that are not recycling safe are:
- No plastic or garbage bags from grocery stores. Recyclables do not need to be bagged.
- No hoses, wires, chains, electronics or items that can be tangled up easy.
- No clothing or linens are accepted.
- No food, liquid or diapers. Containers need to be emptied before recycling.
Yard trimmings
Yard trimmings and brush collected by the city and turned into mulch, which can then be picked up by residents for free at four drop-off locations.
Residents can either use paper bags or a green cart for yard trimmings and brush. The same rules apply for trash pickup compared to regular collection and recycling services, everything has to be set out by 7 a.m. on pickup day.
The 96-gallon green cart can be purchased for $75 and is charged on your water bill. However, it is a one-time fee and no additional monthly charges apply to the green cart. To order one, call 817-392-1234.
Items such as grass clippings, leaves and small tree branches are good for the green cart or paper bags. Larger items like shrub and tree trimmings need to be bundled together with string or twine for easier pickup. Bundled brush items are to be placed next to the yard trimming cart and bags.
Bulk waste
Bulk waste pickup happens once a month for residents looking to get rid of large items that don’t fit in any previous collection.
Pickup is limited to 10 cubic yards, which is about eight feet long, six feet wide and six feet deep. There is no extra charge for bulk waste pickup if its stays in the length limitations, but if items exceed the requirements, then an extra charge will apply.
Bulk waste must be placed outside at least two feet away from any obstruction by 7 a.m. Monday of the designated pickup week and crews have until 5 p.m. Saturday to collect items. Your pickup week is determined by your address.
- Week of first Monday of the month- North to northwest Fort Worth.
- Week of second Monday of the month- East Fort Worth.
- Week of third Monday of the month- South to southwest Fort Worth.
- Week of fourth Monday of the month- West Fort Worth.
A more detailed map of the bulk waste collection areas, can be found on the city’s website.
Drop-off stations
Four drop-off stations in the city are open for homeowners and some renters, who are looking for additional garbage disposal.
The only thing residents have to do is show either a recent water bill or driver’s license with a Fort Worth address listed on it. Residents have to unload the materials themselves and put them into the proper places.
Bagged garbage, recyclables, scrap metal, bulky trash, yard trimmings and more must be loaded onto a single-axle trailer. Loose brush, business waste, concrete, dirt and ammo, are some of the items not allowed.
The hours for the four drop-off stations are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are located at:
- Brennan drop-off: 2400 Brennan Ave.
- Southeast drop-off: 5150 Martin Luther King Freeway
- Old Hemphill Road drop-off: 6260 Old Hemphill Road
- Hillshare drop-off: 301 Hillshare Drive
This story was originally published June 22, 2022 at 4:31 PM.
